Homeopathic remedies indicated for constipation often
work at a deeper level than nutritional supplements and
most herbs because they target the mind and the emotions
in addition to the physical body. (This is not to say
that nutritional supplements and herbs don't also effect
the mind and emotions - but that the emphasis with
homeopathy is the mind and the emotions, whereas with
nutritional supplements and western herbs it is usually
the physical body.) Essentially homeopathic remedies
assist in unlocking the stress that may be underlying the
constipation symptoms, ideally leading to a permanent
resolution of the problem.

Given this emphasis, and since constipation symptoms are
often difficult to differentiate on a physical level (in
other words, it's often difficult to differentiate one
type of constipation from another), I usually focus my
attention on the mental/emotional symptoms (e.g, the
"story") of the individual and similarly, the
mental/emotional symptoms (or story) of the possible
homeopathic remedies.

Very often the mental/emotional profile of remedies that
address chronic constipation include some type of control
issue - there is usually some area of the individual's
life in which they have a profound fear of letting go.
So, in many of the profile summaries you'll see in the
remedies listed below, you'll often see symptoms like
perfectionism, obsessive-compulsiveness, fastidiousness,
etc. If you suffer from chronic constipation, the key is
to find the remedy that matches your particular
experience of control - where does your issue of control
show up, what triggers it, and how does it manifest?

Also know that with chronic constipation, you may need
only one homeopathic remedy or a series of remedies as
different symptom pictures emerge over time. Call me
and/or come in for a consultation if you would like my
professional assistance.

Finally, know that chronic constipation may be indicative
of a greater disease process going on in your body. If
your constipation is long term and severe, see an MD for
a medical diagnosis.

Precautions about this information.....

Do not use homeopathy in place of needed medical help - Homeopathic remedies do not have side-effects. The real
risk in using homeopathy is when it is chosen at the
exclusion of conventional diagnosis and treatment - be
conservative, when in doubt about any ailment, seek the
advice of your M.D.

Retrace back to acute phase - Often times during the healing
process, the body will retrace chronic physical and emotional symptoms
back to the original acute state of the symptom - if this happens, your
physical symptoms may be temporarily heightened. This is often a
necessary part of the healing process and should not be cause for
alarm. If you are concerned, call me or speak with another
professional homeopath. (For more information on what to expect from
taking a remedy, see Frequently
Asked Questions about What to Expect.)

About self-prescribing....

Match determines result - This is a write-up of the symptom pictures of 12 remedies
commonly recommend for chronic constipation - know that
in homeopathy the goal is to find the remedy that most
closely match your symptom picture. If you
select the best match, the remedy will stimulate a
healing response. If you select a match which is close,
but not on target, you might experience some improvement,
but it won't be optimal. If you select a remedy that
doesn't match at all, you will most likely have no
reaction whatsoever.

Your optimal remedy may not be included here - Also know that in homeopathy the remedy that most closely
matches your symptom picture could be one of 1000
different remedies. I am only listing 12 of the most
commonly recommended here. If you think you might need a
remedy not listed here, call me or come in for a
consultation and I'll use muscle testing and interviewing
to identify it. You can also roll up your sleeves, do
some self-study and try to select a remedy for yourself -
although I don't recommend it for chronic constipation as
selecting a remedy for this complaint is usually very
difficult for beginners.

Focus on the feeling - In my case, I have lived through the "stories"
of most of the remedies I work with, (including those for
chronic constipation) and so I have a solid feel for what
these are. I've attempted in the write-up below to give a
brief description of 12 remedies - know that these are
brief sketches to give you the gist of what these
remedies feel like. When you match your feeling with the
feeling of the remedy, you will almost always get a
resonance response and the remedy works.

When in doubt, select a low potency - Most of the remedies listed below can be found at your
local health food stores (if not, contact a homeopathic pharmacy or ask your health food store to
order the selected remedy for you.) When in doubt, select
the lower potency for a particular remedy (6X or 6C).
When confident of your selection and when the discomfort
is more intense, select the medium potency for the remedy
(30X or 30C).

Reference - Many of the physical symptoms listed here are taken from
Desktop Guide to Keynotes and Confirmatory Symptoms, by
Roger Morrison, M.D.

Summary of Remedies

Nux Vomica - fear of wasting time and money,
great irritability, perfectionism at work.

Obsessive/compulsive about work details; organizes their desk
or their home perfectly; highly industrious and fastidious;
workaholic; places great demands on themselves and/or the people
around them; highly time conscious, must use every moment
productively; cannot sit and do nothing without feeling very
anxious; an internal voice berates the person for being lazy.

Anxiety ridden, worries about work and money, stays awake at
night thinking of all the work that must be done the next day;
extremely irritable when people or situations (traffic, lines,
slow clerks, etc) get in the way of them staying on the schedule
they had in mind, interfering with their productivity, impacting
their ability to make money; also extremely irritable at
colleagues and co-workers who don't pay attention to detail,
waste time or make mistakes that causes loss of money.

Work hard, play hard archetype - always has plans for what to
do when not working, the sophisticated and accomplished city
dweller.

Obsessive compulsive about money issues; extreme fear of
poverty, and/or disease and death; fears that a minor mistake may
cause them to be fired, lose the contract or become impoverished
in some way, or, fears the a minor mistake will significantly
worsen a health situation, or even cause death.

Driven workaholic; must be vigilant, works long hours for
months on end in order to avoid financial ruin; miserly, very
conscious of every penny spent; projects poverty onto others,
sees the world and everyone around them as being poor.

Archetypes include: people in jobs that require extreme
perfectionism (e.g., engineers, money managers, surgeons, anyone
in the medical profession, etc); people who have suffered from
years of chronic illness and feel desperate to get better, and
people who may be in the last stage of their life (e.g. terminal
cancer patients).

Fastidious in their work and in their behavior so as not to
impose on others, cause any upset or stress or suffering; also
fastidious so as not to create a backlash (e.g. another
individual reprimanding them, becoming angry with them, blaming
them for causing them grief, etc). This is often someone who
grows up in a family in which they are reprimanded repeatedly in
a harsh way and sent the message "you are the reason I'm
unhappy - if only you would behave (conform), then everything
would be all right."

People needing Carcinosin are often deeply suppressed
emotionally - not able to attend to or even experience their own
feelings as they are entirely focused on not rocking the boat and
taking care of others. In particular, they fear their own anger
and the anger of those around them.

Archetypes include: anyone in a savior role, martyrs, people
who sacrifice themselves for others (mothers, doctors, nurses,
non-profit directors, animal rights activists, soldiers, etc),
any hero that is more concerned with the "cause" than
being true to themselves.

Fastidious about insignificant details, frets about making the
wrong decision; timid and indecisive, overwhelmed, childlike;
asks everyone they come into contact with "what do you think
I should do?" These are often people who grew up without a
lot of emotional support and so had to parent themselves at an
early age. They disassociate from their feelings of vulnerability
(held in the gut) in order to survive and then as an adult are
chronically disconnected from their gut. This prohibits them from
having a gestalt feeling that tells them what decision to make.
(in holistic medicine, vulnerability -> small intestines ->
right brain -> gestalt)

People needing Silicea are extremely detail oriented, but
usually about items that are insignificant (e.g. what font should
I use, should I sit on the left side of the room or the right?).
The nervous system is overwhelmed by the anxiety of the
indecision. Also, with the right brain compromised (due to the
gut disconnect), their left brain becomes heavily taxed. The
overall result is an extremely fatigued nervous system - hence
it's also a leading remedy for CFS.

In terms of colon symptoms, Silicea includes the symptoms
"constipation with no urging", and "bashful
stool", in which the stool starts to come out but then
retreats back into the rectum. This is representative of the
Silica personality. They are out of the "mix", separate
from the group. When they try to move out of their isolation,
reconnect, take on some greater responsibility their timidness
becomes heightened - often they retreat back to their isolation.

Other physical symptoms - Silicea is also one of the main
remedies for scoliosis (curvature of the spine), lack of nutrient
absorption, coldness, craving for milk, milk intolerance, sour
perspiration, chronic sinusitis, and failure to thrive amongst
infants and small children.

Plumbum Metallicum (from metallic lead)

Extreme difficulty in letting go of material goods that are no
longer serves the individual; may be a high paying job or career
that the individual knows within their heart is not their true
calling, or may be a relationship that provides material comfort
but that they know is not in their highest good. Overall, people
needing Plumbum have an overly materialistic view of the world
and their lives, and don't trust the non-material (e.g.
intuition, spirituality, decisions based on what their heart
wants, etc). Alternatively, someone needing Plumbum may be the
opposite - that is, placing too much emphasis on the non-material
world and disowning the part of themselves that is indulgent and
materialistic.

The Plumbum personality may also be impulsively indulgent and
selfish - archetypes include the impulsive shopper, the impulsive
overeater, the impulsive drug addict, gambler or stock trader.
Plumbum physical symptoms include chronic and obstinate
constipation, (may have bowel obstruction), atherosclerosis
(hardening of the arteries), heart disease, painter's colic
(better from leaning backwards), poor memory; tremor, spasm or
twitching of the musc les; wrist drop and ankle drop, and
progressive paralysis. Overall, the individual feels heavy, like
lead. (and often suffers from lead toxicity)

Aurum Metallicum (from metallic gold)

Obsessive compulsive in their efforts to be "good
enough". People needing Aurum Metallicum often have an
internal voice that tells them they're not good enough, no matter
how many awards, trophies, championships, medals they win, no
matter how elegant, graceful, thin, and beautiful they are, and
no matter how accomplished, wealthy, etc.

This is the Olympic ice skater or gymnast who strives for the
gold medal and then makes one minor mistake and instantly drops
out of medal contention. For months and years afterward the
athlete suffers self-condemnation about the mistake. This is also
the minister who strives to be "good" at his job and
then one day says just the wrong thing to a parishioner. For
weeks and months afterward he feels apologetic about the mistake.
This is also the anorexic woman, who, although having a gorgeous
figure looks in the mirror and finds fault. No matter how
perfect, the Aurum individual always finds a reason to feel not
good enough. Guilt is also usually a predominant emotion.

People needing aurum are usually serious and melancholic and
often has a strong spiritual inclination (e.g. they spend a great
deal of time praying, meditating, doing yoga, etc.) They may even
be spiritually arrogant, haughty, above having or expressing the
more negative emotions.

Holding onto structures that may no longer be serving the
individual, as a compensation for deep insecurities about
finances, and/or health. This is the individual who clings to the
security of job that gives them a paycheck on a regular basis,
even though it may be holding them back from their true calling.
They may have everything necessary to make it doing their own
business, but the thought of giving up the weekly paycheck
terrifies them.

This may also be the individual who clings to the security of
their home environment, so much so that they might be considered
a "home body". They sit on their couch with a blanket,
nestled in the safety of their own protected environment. When
their home becomes threatened (e.g. earthquake, or they're forced
to move for some reason), it creates tremendous insecurity and
heartache. This has proven to be an excellent remedy for people
who for some reason were forced to leave their home town years
ago and are still grieving the loss.

Physically, Calcarea Carbonica is an excellent remedy for
arthritis, spinal curvature and osteoporosis. It's as if their
attachment to their current external structures prevents them
from letting go and moving onto structures that are truly in
their highest good - and this lack of alignment is reflected in
their own skeletal system.

Other physicals: constipation without an urge for stool; CFS,
poor stamina, difficulty breathing, especially while walking up
stairs or ascending a hill; sensation of inner trembling;
tendency towards obesity; all symptoms worse in the damp and
cold; craves sweets, eggs, olives, and indigestible items.

Other mental/emotional symptoms: highly industrious, strong
sense of duty and responsibility, works to exhaustion and then
must give up the job altogether, fears: mice or rats, insects,
spiders, insanity, poverty, earthquakes, storms, cancer,
diseases, dogs; despair of recovery; fears that his mind is weak
or that he may go insane.

Rhus Toxicodendron (from the plant poison oak)

Obsessive/compulsive worry, especially about the well being
and safety of one's children. As an example, this might be the
parent whose three year old walks toward curb. The parent is
gripped with fear that the child will go into the street and so
runs over and stops the child from going any further. Another
example is the parent whose 15 year old hasn't come home yet, and
it's 11pm at night. The parent paces back and forth, worrying
about the child's whereabouts. This could also be the parent of a
special needs child, who requires constant attention to ensure
his/her safety.

The Rhus Tox picture might also show up in supervisor/employee
relationships, or coach/athlete relationships - basically, any
relationship in which one individual feels compelled to worry
about and track the actions of the other, and the other
individual feels a restless drive to break free of the
supervision. For some people, this scenario can even take place
within their own psyche, in which part of them is the restless
child and the other the worrisome, anxious parent.

Physicals: Traditionally, Rhus Tox is best known as a remedy
for stiffness and arthritic pains, which are better from
stretching and warming up, and better with warmth. Other physical
symptoms include: constipation, restless sleep, restless legs in
bed, arthritis worse in the cold and damp, worse sitting, low
back pain and sciatica, eczema, shingles, genital herpes, fever
blisters about the lips, craves milk, and red tip of the tongue.

Indicated for the conscientious mother and housewife who
stresses about doing a good job as a mother. Initially she puts
high demands on herself to do a good job, maintain her cool and
ensure that everyone's needs are taken care of. She never takes
time for herself, however, and receives no help from family
members. Eventually she grows weary and becomes increasingly
irritable and resentful. She snaps at her children when they
bother her while she's preparing dinner - and then feels
tremendous guilt and remorse.

In the advanced stages of Sepia, the woman falls into a state
of chronic fatigue and resentment. She may become totally
indifferent to the needs of her family and fantasize about
running away to a deserted island to be by herself (although she
dreads being alone). She weeps easily for no apparent reason, and
may have biting sarcasm. She may also have mental dullness and
confusion.

I think in the later stages of Sepia, the exhaustion is so
pronounced that the woman tries to guard herself against further
giving. The body mirrors this mindset by guarding the pelvic
area. Essentially, the hips tilt and the uterus becomes prolapsed
- almost as if the mothering part of the woman (in holistic
medicine held partly in the uterus) goes into hiding. It's as if
the woman is saying "I won't let go of another ounce of my
energy. I am tired of being a mother. " I think this also
contributes to the constipation pattern - the extreme fatigue and
stasis that sets in, and the resistance to giving any more of
herself to those around her.

People needing Sepia derive great benefit from dancing and
rigorous physical exercise. The exercise seems to help to offset
the stasis of the state.

Sepia may also be appropriate for people that don't have
children, but that have creative projects that they are
constantly mothering. Another scenario may be someone in a
caretaking profession (nurse, therapist, pre-school teacher,
etc).

The physical symptoms of Sepia include: CFS, menopausal
symptoms, periodicity every 28 days (even in men and
non-menstruating women), left sided headaches, cracking of the
lips - either at corners or middle of lower lip, lump sensation
in the rectum or prostate, vaginitis, PMS, infertility, genital
herpes, uterine cancer, painful urination, stress incontinence,
and thickened and parchment like skin.

These three remedies are excellent for stubborn constipation
(constipation with no urge, may require mechanical removal), but
are indicated much less frequently than the other remedies listed
above, so I'm not including a lot of information on them. If you
think you might match one of their profiles, call me for more
details.

Nux Moschata (from the plant nutmeg)

Overpowering sleepiness, feels "spaced out",
extremely forgetful, extremely dry mouth, "cotton
mouth", tongue so dry it sticks to the roof of the mouth.
The personality is either someone who has an endless curiosity
and asks questions continually - essentially "grilling"
the individual they're interviewing to the point of exhaustion -
or, its the opposite, someone who feels like they've been put on
the witness stand and has to respond to a seemingly endless list
of questions.

Opium (from the plant opium)

Disconnected and blissed out, often the individual becomes
disassociated from their feelings and their physical body
following a fright and/or head injury, it's as if they're
floating above their body, not really dealing with reality. They
may suffer from narcolepsy, and/or painlessness from complaints
that are normally painful. Alternatively, the individual may also
be a workaholic that is hurried and impatient and has great
mental clarity.

Alumina (from metallic aluminum)

Great mental dullness, a leading remedy for Alzheimer's
disease; the person is slow to answer questions and gives vague
replies; great aversion to or aggravation from potatoes, cob-web
sensation on the face.

The personality is someone who loses their own identity easily
in the presence of others. They have a sense of who they are and
what they want to do, and then when they interact with others
it's as if they become caught in the other person's web. Soon
they become disoriented and forget what they were feeling and
thinking, and yield to/adopt the feelings and thoughts of the
other person. (often suffers from aluminum toxicity)